First Day of Preschool

Uff ... I just dropped off little Luc at his first day of preschool.

How did we ever get from this:

and this:

and this:

... to a brave little 2 and a half year old who likes pirates, swords, superheroes, swimming underwater, bikes and buses?

Thus the extra-special multimodal commute for his first day to his new preschool near my work. Normally I'll ride Drew and Luc on the eMADSEN, and drop Drew off first, but today Luc and his daddy took the Brompton, ITchair, and the bus.

If I were slightly less neglectful of blogging this year, you would have heard a lot more about the eMADSEN and the Brompton with front seat. Suffice it to say (for now!) that the Brompton with ITchair front seat is the coolest way on the planet for a parent and a 3-5yo to "jetpack for two" around town. 

So here's to Luc, loving his new commute:

Folding bike for two, ORCA card in hand!

Missing momma, just a bit ...

Cascade red snap anklet = sword and handcuffs in a pinch

He blew me a kiss and ran back to the blocks ...

Wishing you and your little big ones a lovely (and wistful) first day of school ...

Greenways Ride to Field Day

Work on Ballard Neighborhood Greenways routing and promotion has been fun (wikistix!), and we're excited to show folks what routes look good to us, and get your opinion. Join us tomorrow July 31, 2011, as Ballard Greenways and friends ride the routes, and wind up at a good, old-fashioned Field Day event.

I'm out of town, but Jen will be leading the ride, and was happy to include the Kidical Mass crew. On this 4 mile on-street ride, if your kids don't yet ride in a reasonably straight line or stop reliably, then they’re probably safer on a trailer, trail-a-bike, cargo bike, etc ...

Come join Ballard Greenways as we ride our favorite routes in Ballard! This is a family-friendly easy-going ride that will start and finish at the Ballard  Library, just in time for the Summer Field Day at Ballard Commons Park. We like quiet streets, with easy crossings as great routes for people of all ages to get around the neighborhood.

We’ll meet at the Ballard Library at 2:30 and leave at 3:00. We’ll ride some of our proposed Greenway routes and be back at the library by 4:00, just in time for the Summer Field Day.

Bikes Make Life Better

Here are some celebrational bike videos that made me happy this year, starting with the brand new "Bikes Make Life Better" from peopleforbikes.org:

And don't miss our new, homegrown promotional, "Will You Ride with Sophie?", from Cascade:

And if you haven't seen it yet, don't miss "Me and My Bike" from earlier this year:

These videos are how promoting bikes should work. All joy, easy on the enviroguilt, save the safety lecture for another day. Speaking of which, "The Joy of Cycling" poster is not to be missed, for those of us who grew up with a certain book on their parents' bookshelves. 

Neighborhood Greenways in Ballard!

Here's a taste of Neighborhood Greenways, Portlandia style (via Streetfilms)

Update: Read on for background and proposed routes, but the latest Ballard Greenways information is to be found on the Ballard Greenways Facebook Page

Calling all Ballard bike people! Neighborhood Greenways (the streets formerly known as Bicycle Boulevards) are coming to Seattle. Soon. And in a big way.

Thus far, Seattle bike improvements have tended to favor commuters, and "fast and fearless" cyclists, with narrow bike lanes on busy arterials. While the associated road diets have lowered rates of speeding and accidents, being wedged between fast motor vehicles and the door zone is not exactly where you want to be with your kids. It's time to address the "willing but worried" who would ride if they felt safer, using designs that cater to cyclists of all ages and abilities, helping them get to neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and shops, on pleasant, traffic-calmed "bike arterials."

Enter the Neighborhood Greenway. Take a quiet street, often parallel to a busy arterial, with already lowish motor-traffic volumes. Add calming devices that discourage cut-through speeding motorist traffic (speed bumps, speed tables, curb extensions, chicanes, etc), and favor through-traffic for bikes by turning some stop signs to favor the greenway, and at arterials, provide safe crossings for bike/peds but divert motorists onto the arterial. Bonus points for adding "green" features such as stormwater diversion "rain gardens" in conjunction with curb extensions, trees, and other greenery. Make the routes distinctive and let motorists know to expect bike/peds with large street markings, and wayfinding signs that help cyclists navigate our bike-friendly network.

Unlike some more controversial (yet still vital) infrastructure where traffic or parking lanes are removed, the Greenway approach is potentially less divisive. Residents can still drive home, but experience calmer streets and higher property values. Pedestrians are spared from speeding motorists, and have safer crossings. People on bikes both feel and are safer, due to the "safety in numbers" phenomenon, and are able to keep their momentum up with fewer stops on the route. And by attracting cyclists to these "bike arterials", there are fewer cyclists on the other arterials, which benefits motorists. The only people who lose are the drivers that like to speed down your quiet neighborhood street. Oh well.

There's a lot of momentum towards this new school of bike facility in town. Sally Bagshaw, of the City Council, has caught the fever, and reports that others on the Council see neighborhood greenways as a win-win. Seattle Parks Foundation is on board, as are Cascade and the Mayor's Office. SDOT is relatively late to this concept (especially compared to Portland, Vancouver, Berkeley, and other bike-friendly cities with extensive greenways networks) but is coming around. What's nice about Seattle is that the push for these is coming from neighborhood groups like Beacon BIKES, Spokespeople (Wallingford), Seattle Children's, not to mention a host of interested Ballard bike/walk organizations. After all, we know best what streets are bike-friendly, and where everyday cyclists need to ride. A number of us have been meeting together to help our Greenways get off to a successful start.

For more info on Seattle Greenways, see these resources:

• Our post on "Ballard Bicycle Boulevards" from 2 summers back, before the "ixnay on the ikebay" / more inclusive name change
• Sally Bagshaw's posts on Greenways
• An excellent recent series on Seattle's Neighborhood-Powered Streets movement from SeattleBikeBlog
• Download an excellent design manual 

The first Seattle Greenways are likely to be in Wallingford on N 43/44th St, Laurelhurst on 39th Ave NE, and Beacon Hill on 17th/18th Ave S, due the efforts of neighborhood grassroots organizations. Let's get Ballard on the map for round two of Seattle Greenways, and push for a connected network of greenways rather than a single street. Ballard's flat-for-Seattle neighborhood grid is ideal for such a system, one that can get families to places they need to go in Ballard, and connect to established routes like the Burke Gilman trail, and the downtown route through the Locks and Elliott Bay Trail. 

Here is a very rough draft of what Ballard's network might look like (original Seattle map by Dylan Ahearne of Beacon BIKES). Detailed thoughts on routes follow. But we need your input! Please post suggestions in the comments, and I'll update the map as consensus evolves. SDOT truly wants to know what we think, and so does the City Council. 

Proposed Neighborhood Greenways in Ballard

View Ballard Greenways in a larger map, with other cycle routes

28th Ave NW

I really like 28th Ave NW, as it's already a popular N-S bikeway, with relatively gentle grade, that would route from the top of Sunset Hill, down past the Nordic Museum and park, in front of Adams Elementary plus the Ballard Community Center & Playfield, across Market (already has a traffic light), to the future Missing Link section of the Burke Gilman and downtown through the Locks. Some motorists like to speed down it, as it's relatively wide, so there could be some pushback, but calming this street would have real safety benefits for residents and Adams Elementary students.

NW 57th/58th Street

This vital E-W route links up Seaview Avenue at Ray's (and the Burke Gilman trail extension), past QFC, Ballard Commons Park, the Ballard Library, downtown Ballard, the Port Office, supermarkets on 15th, and so on. The arterial crossings are already signalized. It's 1-2 blocks away from many local Ballard businesses. Love it. Only issue I have is 57th is pretty narrow west of 24th Ave, which can be said of some of the other routes. That'll be something to carefully mull over, as the visibility and shareability of such streets is limited, and I don't think such streets would easily lose one parking lane. Some streets already have a "no parking" side in sections, which could help.

17th Ave NW

This N-S route would link up North Ballard, Salmon Bay School (and parks), the new Ballard Corners Park, Market Street businesses, Swedish Medical Center, lower Ballard Ave, and the Burke Gilman. It would need a crossing treatment at 17th and Shilshole, but that's been needed for years, and is in the interim plan for the Missing Link. The Leary crossing would also need a median refuge or signal. Market has a light. 65th crossing would need help as well. Interestingly, this is the only proposed Greenway on the Seattle Bike Master Plan, which is due for it's midway update next year. 

NW 67th Street

This E-W route would connect to the routes above, is wide in the West, and would provide a calmer alternative to busy/narrow 65th for Salmon Bay and Ballard High Schools. Crossing 24th and 15th would need some help. NW 70th St is a similar route to consider, as it seems roomier in East Ballard, has a light on 15th, includes the Honore/Delancey business strip and intersects with Salmon Bay Park. Maybe make it 67st-70th St route, jogging up 17th Ave?

11th-12th Ave NW

This route hooks the Burke Gilman Trail at Fred Meyer up to North Ballard, past Gilman Playground, and including Ballard High School.

NW 77th St

This is a nice E-W bikeway that routes from Sunset Hill Park, past Loyal Heights Elementary & Community Center, and provides one of the gentler routes up and over Phinney, connecting nicely to North Greenlake at the wading pool, on streets that already include some calming features like the chicanes near the lake. Intersects the Interurban bike trail as well. 

6th Ave NW

This N-S Greenway could link the BG Trail at Hale's, up past Pacific Crest School, West Woodland Elementary, to NE Ballard.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts and suggestions, as this is just a rough start. As you design, remember that the most expensive part of Greenways are arterial crossings, so bonus for routes that already have safe ways across. What routes would you like to see created first?

As our proposed Greenways get tightened up, I propose we borrow the 7-person Conference Bike from Dutch Bike and ride the routes with interested parties and stakeholders. Who's in for a round-bike discussion on the streets of Ballard?

Sunny Days Family Biking Menu

Updated with May Kidical Mass Deets - Scroll Down

Sunny Seattle Summer is so close I can taste it. Sandy Paseo sandwiches at the "secret beach," D'Ambrosio Gelato, Solstice Pale Ale at Fremont Urban Beer Garden, pit stops for blackberries most places we ride. Delicious sunny summery times await!

To whet your appetite, may I present a menu of family biking options this summer:

Thursday April 28th - Family Biking Slideshow

I'll be kicking off Miro Tea's Soapbox Series this Thursday at 7pm with a slideshow and talk on family cycling (see their flyer & Facebook event page). Naturally, I'll be covering the finer points of blocking traffic, not paying for roads, and how to ruin Ballard's industrial core in 3 easy steps. After the talk, we'll play "Red Light? Green Light!", practice smug expressions, help young fingers make the finger, and scoff at a few laws. 

Actually, I'm nervous that no one will show, and it'll be just me harshing people's mellow oolong vibe. Please come, drink a Hemingway, and join in on the discussion. Bonus points for bringing your family biking rig to show off afterwards.

Saturday April 30th - April Kidical Mass

And you thought there wasn't going to be an April Kidical Mass Seattle. Think again! I'm sneaking one under the wire. Ballard Commons Park at 10am to the new South Lake Union Park at 11am for a romp in the sun, ending at Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden at 12:30 or so. Yes, you read that last part right. They're quite welcoming of the kids. In fact, last time we were there a 3-year old birthday party was happening. Wow. We were just happy that the Yelp reviews weren't going to be complaining about our kids ruining the place, for once. And since it's My Birthday Eve, this Kidical Mass ends with take-out pizza and beer in the middle of the day. After the Spring we've had, you deserve it. 

All of May - Bike to Work/School Month

I know, I know, every month is bike to blank month, uphill and upwind both ways in biblical rains and hail. But only in May can you be a part of team One Less Minivan, led by Madi Carlson, who is slaying #30daysofbiking with two littles on her mamafiets. Check her Family Ride blog, join the team, and show those fair weather Cascade Cat 6 Commuters how we do it.

Saturday May 7th - Bike Works Kids' Bike Swap!

Love Bike Works, love the Swap. Don't miss it! I'm pretty sure Morgan will be bringing the Family Bike Expo as well.

Bike Works, Columbia City’s nonprofit bike shop and youth bicycle education organization, will hold its 15th annual Kids’ Bike Swap on Saturday, May 7th, 2011, from 10 am – 4 pm at Genesee Playfield (43rd Ave S and S Genesee St). This annual event is an opportunity for families to trade in a bike their child has outgrown for a larger bike – just in time for the summer riding season! The Kid’s Bike Swap helps to facilitate the flow of affordable bicycles within the community and keeps fully functional bikes out of our local landfills. This year, Bike Works has overhauled over 145 kids’ bikes to kick-off the swap.

Friday May 20th - Bike to School/Work Day Afterparty

Where KM Seattle got its start. This time the weather will cooperate, and after whooping it up at the street party, we'll ride to the "secret beach" across from Paseo for Cuban sandwiches.

Let's keep it simple. The Afterparty in Ballard starts at 4pm. Let's get to it on our own, but ideally by 5, as we'll meet up at the belltower at 5:30 PM for a gentle, easy, flat ride to Paseo for takeout (bring CASH, and parents of young kids might want to BYO some back-up blander food) and beach party across the street.

Saturday May 21st - People Powered Park Parade

Kidical Mass takes it to the streets in Beacon Hill with Beacon BIKES. Check their flyer, and don't miss this opportunity to show support for what will likely be one of Seattle's first neighborhood greenways (the facilities formerly known as bike boulevards):

Beacon BIKES is celebrating the completion of our Family Friendly Bike and Pedestrian Circulation Plan (authored by Alta Planning and Design). Once implemented, these Neighborhood Greenways will allow people of all ages and comfort levels to safely bike and walk between destinations on N. Beacon Hill. We will highlight one of the proposed neighborhood greenways via a fun People Powered Park Parade which will begin at Jefferson Park and end at the Lewis Park. Bicycle decoration prizes will be awarded during the Lewis Park Celebration.

Friends of Lewis Park are celebrating four years of a Green Seattle Partnership restoration that has transformed this ugly, crime-ridden park to a beautiful Natural Area for our community to enjoy.  We have also been selected as an Opportunity Fund project.  Our Celebration includes tours of Lewis Park Natural Area, free BBQ, entertainment and just plain fun.

I'm planning to ride downtown to the Westlake Light Rail station, via the new Dexter, and take the light rail to Beacon Hill. Anyone who'd like to ride down from Ballard at 9ish, or meet at Fremont Bridge, get in touch or leave a comment. Families from point South or West can just meet us at the Parade! For those that (legitimately, of course) are sad to miss our north-of-the-canal biased rides, "stop freakin', meet us at Beacon!"

And that's just a taste of what's in store for summer. The Summer 2011 Fiets of Parenthood Games will be happening sometime in July/August, and goldangit we're finally going to make it to Vashon by bike for some family bike camping at the AYH Ranch Hostel with the teepees and covered wagons. If you'd like to join us, let me know. Finally, the Gelato Bike will ride again! Please suggest other event ideas and Kidical Mass ride concepts in the comments below.

The Rides of March

The Seattle Bicycle Expo is back, and so is Kidical Mass Seattle!

We ride this Saturday March 12, from Ballard Commons Park, through the Locks, to the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. Meet at 10:15am, leave by 10:30, arrive by 11:15ish. Not only is it the largest consumer bike show in the country, but the performances that day look great. Elementary school juggling unicyclists, world champion artistic bike team (these guys were great last year), trials riding demo, Bike Snob, and a bicycle fashion show (including the totcycle crew; the organizers must not have seen this post).

For a ride of a different nature, you can ride to the Expo again on Sunday with Mister Bike Snob NYC, leaving at 10:30am from Uptown Espresso at Queen Anne & Mercer. Wear your spiffiest Tyvek.

Also at the Expo will be a first-ever family biking booth (WOOT!), courtesy of Morgan Scherer (morganverbena at the gmail to the dot com). She still needs volunteers to help staff the booth, and would appreciate a weekend loan of your favorite family bike rig:

Family bikes are going to be in the Bike Expo this year!  We have a 40'x10' booth for displaying different setups, as well as ok to leave some bikes in the test ride area (though we won't be able to bring bikes from the booth to the test ride area, alas).  I'm very excited, as this will be the *first* year there has been any family biking focus at the Bike Expo! 

Wanna be involved?  I need both equipment and volunteers to staff the booth, talking to folks about the wonderful world of biking as a family.  So far, we have access to a Madsen sans motor, an electrified Big Dummy, an electrified tandem and pedal trailer, an Xtracycle (tho it's not in great shape), an electrified pedicab, a bike with trail-a-bike, and a bike with trailer.  The bikes will need to be at the booth on Sat at 8 or 8:30, and Sun at 9 or 9:30 (and can be left overnight).  Anytime you are willing to commit to staffing the booth and talking to folks would be a blessing--you get a free tshirt and admission both days, courtesy of Cascade Bike Club.  And my undying gratitude :)

Nutcase for Nerds

The Nutcase Helmet Design Contest ends soon! Get your designs in before Saturday, and you might win a $500 gift certificate to Clever Cycles. 

I've been working on some nerdier helmet designs ... although I remain partial to the Combover.

Planetary Gears

Images courtesy of NASA

Brain Buckets

And some "Brainbow" helmets using images of multiply flourescent protein labeling in neurons, by Livet et al.

Fungus Amungus

The conceptual credit/blame for the following must go to Todd Fahrner, who is not eligible to win his own gift certificate.

Conceptional Art

And the circle is complete: nerdy plus wrong =

Family Cycling Outlaws

So from a clueless lawman's mouth, the outlaw family cyclists were born.

An Oregon State representative has proposed amending current statute as follows (part b is new):

SECTION 1. ORS 814.460 is amended to read:
  814.460. (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful
passengers on a bicycle if the person operates a bicycle and
carries { + :
  (a) + } More persons on the bicycle than the number for which
it is designed or safely equipped { + ; or
  (b) A child under six years of age on the bicycle or in a
bicycle trailer + }.
  (2) The offense described in this section, unlawful passengers
on a bicycle, is a Class D traffic violation.

Catch that? Illegal to carry a child under 6 years old (not months), on a bicycle or bike trailer. $90 infraction.

Yes, this entire website would be illegal in the state of Oregon. 

You would be forgiven for assuming this was the work of a bike-baiting, rural, truck-and-gun-rack conservative. 

But you would be wrong. This is the work in progress of one Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland. D as is democratic, Portland as in Bikeytown USA. Oregon as in where Burley trailers were invented. 

His rationale, if you can call it such, is that a recent OHSU study of adult bicycle commuters found that in 1 year, 20% sustained a minor injury (including bruises or scrapes), and 5% had an injury requiring medical attention ... so ... THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

In his words (this and other quotes from BikePortland):

When that's going on out there, what happens when you have a four year old on the back of a bike? From a precautionary principle, I felt it was important to discuss the issue and start a debate.

Um, there were no children in this study. Let alone passengers on adult bicycle. My solo commute route and riding style is very different from how I ride with children on board. Perhaps he is aware of more pertinent public health research on riding with children on board?

No.

But he's looking for some. Hasn't found it yet. Hasn't stopped him from proposing legislation to make it illegal.

But hey, "Everybody should just stay calm, this is part of a deliberative process." I may not be a state representative, but it would seem that the review of the evidence might want to come before the proposing to make it illegal part. Or even proposing to have a discussion about it. 

In fact, he won't find solid evidence to support such legislation. What's available is hardly the sort of data to base legislation upon - almost entirely without "denominator" information (it's not enough to know how many injuries - you need to know over how many trips). Much of it from ERs: descriptions of "what came through the door," looking at patterns of injuries in child seats, trailers, etc. Not sturdy stuff, as far as public health research goes. 

But go ahead, have a look. Better yet, conduct better research. A prospective study of cycling families, for starters? No shortage of those in Portlandia.

But based on his comments, I have genuine concern for his ability to interpret the research, and his judgment in deciding whether to inform parents or legislate their choices for them. Quoth Greenlick:

"If it's true that it's unsafe, we have an obligation to protect people. If I thought a law would save one child's life, I would step in and do it. Wouldn't you?"

NO! And I'm a freaking pediatrician. It's my job to care about such things.

From a public health perspective, an intervention that attempts to make one aspect of life safer, if it even works, may just shift risk elsewhere, either in the near or long-term. As in, fewer young families biking -> more families driving -> more dangerous streets for the over 6yo's still walking and biking to school. 

Assuming that's still legal in Greenlick's nannytopia. 

Or fewer young children weaned on the bike + more fearful parents -> less interest in active transportation -> obesity epidemic unchecked -> the first generation to have shorter lifespans than their parents. 

And yes, of course, the number one cause of death from age 1 to 34? Motor vehicle crashes. But to be rigorous about it, that statistic doesn't take in account how often we drive (exposure to said risk). It may well be that driving is safer than riding a bike, on a per mile or per trip basis. In the short-term. There is a valid argument for a long-term overall health benefit.

Even if we had convincing data that kids under 6 were at some higher risk on or behind a bike, at what point does it stop being our decision? After all, taking a car is 10 times more hazardous than taking the bus, for adults at least. But I don't see driving being made illegal anytime soon.

Life is dangerous. Life has risk. "Injury-free childhood" does not exist. I wouldn't want one for my kids if it did. Most things worth doing have some risk of injury. Not doing such things has risk too. 

Which isn't to say that investigating the safety of transporting kids by bike isn't very worthwhile. It would inform parents' choices, and lead to guidance on ways to lower risk. Here is my attempt to do so.

You'd think a professor emeritus and past chair of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the Medical School of OHSU would understand this stuff. But he doesn't seem to, based on his absurd "if it could save one child's life" standard. And even if he's ducking behind a "this is how the process works" disclaimer, it's outrageous to introduce a bill with only a barely relevant commuter study and a hunch to back it up. 

But if it's a debate he wants, a debate he has started. Too bad he seems to be ending his public health and political careers on such a false note. If he truly cared about the safety of kids on bikes, he could have proposed lowering speed limits, stiffer penalties for distracted driving, or even funded a study to explore the question he's so clumsily, offensively asking.

And in the meantime, I'm taking the kids to Portland tomorrow, on bikes and Amtrak. While it's still legal.

Family Cycling on 3 Wheels

Christiania Trike, Clown Car Style

Who doesn't have a fond memory of some long-lost tricycle? Me, it was laying down monster skidz on my Big Wheel and Green Machine. But most of us haven't rocked 3 wheels since we were wee.

Enter the cargo trike. Due to some historical quirks of bike evolution, the use of trikes for cargo has been more limited to the Danes and some other Northern European cities for some time now, with cargo bikes being preferred by the Dutch, and more recently, the US. Indeed, until recently, shops weren't able to import Danish trikes for sale, due to concerns about US liability lawyers run amok.

Skates by Mikael Colville-Andersen, on FlickrFellow sufferers of Obsessive Cyclist Disorder may be familiar with "Copenhagen Supermums" and the other 3-wheeling Godivas on Copenhagen Cycle Chic, or perhaps have acquired a bit of snootiness about nouveau cargeau trikes from the Bakfiets en Meer blog. But that's not the same as trying one. And if you have access to the Clever Cycles, you can try 2 fabled Danish cargo trikes: the Christiania and Nihola.

So when Drew announced that her wish for her 4-year-old birthday was to "go to Portland with my cousins and stay in a hotel and ride bikes and swim in the pool," who was I to say no? This proud biking papa hooked up a hotwire deal on the Crowne Plaza, loaded up the cousins' minivan (remember "why we drive"?), and off we went. Of course, the drive down involved Biblical rains, fisticuffs atop the McD's Playland structure, a detour for dagnasty sheet cake at the Kelso WinCo, a total trip time of 6 hours ... and a bit of nostalgic for Amtrak.

We'd planned to borrow a Christiania trike overnight from Clever Cycles, but got in too late to pick it up. The hotel was everything the girls hoped it would be, and My Little Nomads joined us for party and pool. It was only later in our PDX adventure, when Drew kept asking "when are we going back to Portland?", that I realized that Portland = Hotel to our 4 year old. Which could have saved us the 6 hour van ride.

On Sunday, we woke to a dry day, but by the time Clever opened and we were set up on trikes, rain was upon us again. As were sleep-deprived parents, 5 sets of small bladders and cranky hungry bellies. Thus was our "epic" Portland bike day cut short. Unless "detour to the nearest restaurant and back again" counts as epic.

So take this totcycle family demo report for what it is: a brief, tantalizing trike trial, under duress. For more thorough & knowledgable reports, I recommend this family's committed relationship with a Christiania trike, One Year of Sorte Jernhest, or Life With a Trike.

Nihola Trike

The Nihola is undoubtedly the sexier, more immediately appealing of the two. It's ... designier. And the handling is preferable at first blush, as the wheels turn independently of the box, and the center-of-gravity is very low, which makes the trike less tippy in corners. The cargo area is certainly smaller than the Christiania's, but is well-appointed with padded seat and seatbelts, and a chic/practical see-through nose cone. With some doing, it fits through a doorway, which other trikes won't.

As Henry takes some delight in pointing out, they can tip forward when loading, and require a hand on the saddle when loaded up, which can be tricky when squirrelly rascals are involved. The trike fit both Kim (5'1") and I (5'9") well. And we loved the rain cover, which has side zips and generous windows.

Christiania Trike

The Christiania trike has a storied history, developed in a car-free arty-alternative-squatter community in Copenhagen in the 70s. It has since been refined (internal gear hubs, aluminum frame, etc), popularized, exported, and awarded the Danish Design Prize. They're finally available in the US through Boxcycles and their dealer network. As this photo shows, this trike was intended for family use from its inception.

The "shopping cart" handle turns the entire front of the bike, which takes some getting used to. With a lighter load or higher speeds, this trike can go "Dukes of Hazzard" up on two wheels (or over) quite easily if you're not careful. Like this taxi-trike driver (Todd is well on his way to pulling this off, I reckon).

But the box itself is spacious, with a locking storage space under the bench seat, which is easily removable. Clown trike spacious. If you need more capacity, daycare sized trikes exist. And I was envious again of its well-thought out raincover (must build one for MADSEN soon).

It would take some creativity to get the seat post low enough for my wife, so if you're 5'1" or below, make sure you demo. The front disc brakes have been an area of complaint, but upgrades seem to work well. You can even weld on more traditionally swept back handlebars if you are so inclined. For the brief casual ride we did, brakes and bars worked well enough. The overall look and feel is more utilitarian than the Nihola, but in a pleasingly sturdy workmans-chic way.

Overall

My wife loved the trikes. At the risk of sounding sexist, I suspect there will be a moms over dads bias towards the trike. My wife, at least, has been at a height and upper-body strength disadvantage when it comes to muscling a loaded 2-wheeler around the sidewalk. And from a less-confident-cyclist perspective, the low-speed stability of the loaded trike is a real advantage (she's also less likely to go bombing around corners, but would still be at risk for tipping a trike).

Not that dads don't love some trikes too. Patrick Barber loves his, and Dr. Mekon seems to have traded in a 2-wheel bakfiets.nl for a 3-wheeled version. If I lived in a flatter city, I'd be tempted as well, for these reasons:

• Kim loved it. Seriously. That's the only way I can justify new bikes anymore.
• Trikes can handle heavier loads than a 2-wheeler.
• I loved the jaunty, casual feel of stops and low-speed riding with no need to put a foot down or dismount.
• Spacious cargo boxes with well-designed raincovers, and the usual Euro-practical trimmings (internal gearhubs, chaincovers, fenders, quite upright seating).

On the other hand ...

• While it's nice not to worry about tipping going uphill, the trikes do feel somewhat heavier/sloggier/slower.
• Handling is different (in a good/bad way), with a learning curve, and some risk of tipping at speed in turns (versus 2-wheel cargo bikes, where you tend to dump the bike during low-speed manoevers).
• Lights. None spec'd, and dynohub would be hard, but battery lights would be an add-on.
• Bulk. These are wider than most bikes. Storage could be an issue. Then again, these are designed to be outdoor bikes, with stainless steel hardware, marine plywood, etc.
• Cost. The Christiania is $2,690, and the Nihola is $3,399. Of course, that's what imported euro-utility rides tend to cost, and as a car replacement they're still a good value.

If I had to choose ... well, I wouldn't, on such a short trial. Anyone in the market for a family cargo ride at this price range would ideally get an extended demo ride on these and on a bakfiets, MADSEN, xtracycle, and Bullitt. Take a trip to Portlandia!

Other Family Trikes (updated)

Other trikes I've noticed include:

• Winther Kangaroo - $4000. See Joel's comments below about tilting badonkadonk and hydraulic brakes. Dottie loved it on her test ride. I haven't ridden one yet but was impressed by the kid cargo features, like reclinable and reversable seats. 
• Zigo Leader - $1599. Designed in the USofA, this is the threeway lovechild of a bike trailer, tadpole trike, and a Transformer. Converts from trike to bike to stroller, which is a clever solution to problems that might not afflict that many of you, adding versatility at the expense of cargo room and simplicity. I briefly tried one at the Bike Expo, would try again.
• Onya Cycles - $3000+. Currently in beta, this "Front-End Loader" trike adds lust-worthy tilting front wheels, with optional electric assist. Hot dang. The cargo area looks smaller than others here, however, and not yet as refined as European family bikes.
• Sorte Jernherst - $4299. Hard to find this rear-wheel-steering cargo trike in the US, but MamaVee has one. Like many of us, she notes that 80lbs of trike plus 80lbs of kids is a lot to push up hills unassisted.
• Bakfiets.nl Trike - €1919. Maybe importable through a Workcycles dealer? Stay tuned to the Mekons for more on this trike.

But what do I know? I'm a bike guy. All you trike aficionados out there, please post or link to your three-wheelin' experiences below.

Helmet Design Gone Wrong

Have you heard about the Nutcase Helmet Design Contest, presented by Clever Cycles? There are "prizes." But why win when you can FAIL? Download the template and get cracking! 

And that's all the wrong we've got so far. Might do a "Pity the Fool" mohawk or "Chia Helmet" next. Quoth the bard: "If we offend, it is with our good will. That you should think, we come not to offend, but with good will. To show our simple skill, that is the true beginning of our end."

And as the last one shows, the cute designs are fun too. Put yer kids to work! Or post your ideas below ...

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